SUSIE’S CURRENT EVENTS September 11, 2013 THE BASICS Topic Debating the US Role in Syria: Part 2 French philosopher Joseph Joubert said: “It is better to debate a question without settling it, than to settle a question without debating it.” …debate is an essential tool for developing and maintaining democracy and open societies. More than a mere verbal or performance skill, debate embodies the ideals of reasoned argument, tolerance for divergent points of view and rigorous self-examination. Debate is, above all, a way for those who hold opposing views to discuss controversial issues without descending to insult, emotional appeals or personal bias. A key trademark of debate is that it rarely ends in agreement, but rather allows for a robust analysis of the question at hand. http://idebate.org/about/debate/what
Articles “Assad tells Charlie Rose no evidence he is responsible for Syria chemical attack “http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/08/bashar-assad-charlie-rose-chemical-weapons “Syria will sign chemical weapons convention, declare arsenal, foreign ministry says” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/syria-chemical-weapons-convention_n_3901417.html
“Russia balks at French plan for UN Security Council resolution on Syrian chemical arms” http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/france-to-author-security-council-resolution-to-require-syria-togive-up-chemical-weapons/2013/09/10/0d51a06c-19ff-11e3-a628-7e6dde8f889d_story.html
“Crisis in Syria” http://projects.nytimes.com/live-dashboard/syria#sha=373c94ce1
“President Obama makes his case” http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/president-obama-prime-time-balancing-act-96577.html
“Transcript: President Obama’s Address to the Nation on Syria” http://www.opb.org/news/article/npr-transcript-president-obamas-address-to-the-nation-on-syria/
Questions to Consider Syria • How and why did Syria become a battleground? Who is Bashar al-Assad? • Who is the opposition in Syria? How does the make up and behavior of the opposition affect our decisions? • What is the long-term plan for dealing with the violence in Syria? International involvement • What are the risks to military action? Limited military action? Inaction? What are options other than military strikes? • What international law is in effect for this situation? What justifies intervening if Syria uses chemical weapons? What humanitarian justification is there for intervening? • What are international organizations doing about Syria? Should we wait for the UN to complete its report on chemical weapons? How has the international community responded to possible US military intervention in Syria? What options exist for UN (Security Council) action? • How and why do anti-American feelings in parts of the Middle East play a role in Syria intervention? • What is the upside of a possible agreement about chemical weapons brokered by the United Nations? What are the concerns about this agreement?
Questions to Consider continued… US involvement • Why is the debate in Congress a risk for the President? Why is the debate in Congress so important? How is the debate in Congress part of the US democratic tradition? • How broad is the authority that the President is seeking? How does “fear of boots on the ground” affect the decision? • Is there “compelling evidence that there is an imminent threat to the security of the American people or our allies”? Should that be our decision making standard before any military action is taken? • How does a citizen obtain accurate and meaningful information about the facts in Syria? What role does the media play in this decision? What role should it play? • How does the possibility of a plan to neutralize Syria’s ability to use chemical weapons affect the Syrian civil war, relations with Middle East neighbors and the decision about the US use of a military strike? • Which of these statements in the President’s speech are most important and why? “When dictators commit atrocities, they depend upon the world to look the other way until those horrifying pictures fade from memory. But these things happened. The facts cannot be denied. But I’m also the president of the world’s oldest constitutional democracy. So even though I possessed the authority to order military strikes, I believed it was right, in the absence of a direct or imminent threat to our security, to take this debate to Congress. I believe our democracy is stronger when the president acts with the support of Congress, and I believe that America acts more effectively abroad when we stand together. Let me make something clear: The United States military doesn’t do pinpricks. And I have a deeply held preference for peaceful solutions. I have therefore asked the leaders of Congress to postpone a vote to authorize the use of force while we purse this diplomatic path. What kind of world will we live in if the United States of America sees a dictator brazenly violate international law with poison gas and we choose to look the other way? I believe we should act. That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”
THE EXTRAS Pre-teaching, Extensions & Further Reading • • • •
“Debating the US Response to Syria” http://www.choices.edu/resources/twtn/twtn-syria-fall-2013.php PBS News Hour: Your Cheat Sheet to the Syrian Conflict http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/09/your-cheat-sheet-to-the-syrianconflict.html Al Jazeera: Connecting Syria’s Allies and Enemies http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2013/08/201383111193558894.html 7 Top Classroom Resources for Teaching Syria http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/2013/09/5-top-classroom-resources-teachingsyria/
Pre-teaching, Extensions & Further Reading continued… •
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I Am Syria – Teaching Resources http://www.iamsyria.org/teachers-guide.html o Syria for Educators – excellent background using Prezi http://www.iamsyria.org/syria-for-educators.html International Committee of the Red Cross http://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_rul_rule74
What’s the connection? Constitution • 7 Great Dramas in Congressional History http://www.livescience.com/8153-7-great-dramas-congressional-history.html Oregon • “Will Congress Authorize a Strike on Syria?” http://data.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/congress-syria-positions?rr Students • “How do you want you Congressperson to Vote on Syria?” http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/09/how-do-you-want-yourcongressperson-to-vote-on-syria.html
Oregon State Social Science Standards/CCSS HS.27. Examine the functions and process of United States government. HS.28. Evaluate how governments interact at the local, state, tribal, national, and global levels. HS.31. Describe United States foreign policy and evaluate its impact on the United States and other countries. HS.33. Explain the role of government in various current events. 6-8.RH.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions. 9-10.RH.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text. 11-12.RH.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
NEW! We the People Lesson Connections Middle School, Level 2 • Unit 6, Lesson 28: What is the relationship of the United States to other nations in the world? High School, Level 3 • Unit 4, Lesson 23: What is the role of the President in the American Constitutional System? • Unit 6, Lesson 38: What are the challenges of the participation of the United States in world affairs?
